AZUSA, Calif. – In a well-fought battle at Cougar Field, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (9-3) narrowly defeated Puget Sound (7-5) by a score of 3-2 this afternoon. Timely hitting and solid pitching proved to be the difference as the Stags secured the victory in the late innings.

The game remained tight throughout, with Claremont striking first in the third inning. The Stags led off with a single and later scored on a clutch RBI single giving them an early 1-0 advantage. Puget Sound responded in the sixth when Lucas Brennan singled, advanced on a sacrifice, and was eventually brought home by an RBI single from Ryan Spero, tying the game at 1-1.

The Stags regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth, capitalizing on a sacrifice fly to go up 2-1. Puget Sound clawed back once more in the eighth when Sean Murphy drove in Spero after an error by the Claremont pitcher extended the inning, knotting the game at 2-2.

However, the Stags had the final say in the bottom of the eighth. Reaching a single and moving into scoring position before delivering again, doubling to left to drive in the decisive run. Puget Sound had a final chance in the ninth, but Claremont closer Colin McNiven shut the door, recording his first save of the season.

Starter Preston Crockett was solid for the Loggers, allowing just one run over four innings, while the Claremont bullpen combined for eight strikeouts over eight innings of work.The Loggers finished with eight hits, and both Makana Murashige and Spero tallied two. 

Despite the loss, Puget Sound played a clean game defensively, committing no errors. The Loggers will look to bounce back in their next matchup, at home against Whitman as they continue their season.